UN Wire Thu, Sep 19, 2013 -UN affirms chemical-weapons report is "thoroughly objective"

September 19, 2013 FOLLOW THE UN FOUNDATION   News covering the UN and the world SIGN UP | FORWARD | ADVERTISE | DONATE Top Story UN affirms chemical-weapons report is "thoroughly objective" The United Nations' findings on the Aug. 21 chemical-weapons use in Syria are detailed in "a thoroughly objective report on that specific incident," said Martin Nesirky, a UN spokesman. Russia has said the report is one-sided. Reuters (9/18), The Guardian (London) (9/18), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (9/18) Share: Above the Fold UN's Amos: Instilling hope is essential to coping with crises Action needed to stem future food crises, UNCTAD warns Dismantling Syria's chemical-weapons arsenal will take time, money UN Radio Quote of the Day @UNFoundation: Some fast facts on the 2013 Social Good Summit: trib.al/N4Z9yha #2030NOW Share: UN Dispatch "[Iran's] Hassan Rouhani suddenly and unexpectedly freed 11 political prisoners today and it looks as if relations with the US are warming." UN Dispatch (9/19) Share: United Nations Sponsored By UN's Amos: Instilling hope is essential to coping with crises Coping with any world crisis means finding short-term and long-term solutions as well as helping governments become resilient, says Valerie Amos, chief of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "There have to be long-term solutions to give hope," she argues. Knowledge@Wharton (9/18) Share: UAE's first female UN envoy welcomed by Ban Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates) (9/19) Share: Master of Arts in Public Policy (MAPP) The online MAPP program from New England College educates you on how to drive change in the public, private and community sectors by affecting public policy at the local, regional, and international levels. The program can prepare you to gain an understanding of the intellectual foundations for key public policy discussions and how the outcomes affect change in the political process. Learn More Health & Development Action needed to stem future food crises, UNCTAD warns Climate change requires immediate movement on sustainable agricultural practices to avoid disruptions in food security, especially in poorer countries, says a United Nations Conference on Trade and Development report. Greater emphasis is needed on combating poverty and on giving the poor access to food that's wholesome and affordable, the report argues. The Guardian (London) (9/18) Share: Aid for Syrian refugees needs to be increased, Oxfam says Jordan and Japan are pledging more aid for Syrian refugees, but other donor countries need to contribute more to support humanitarian efforts, says an Oxfam report. "Donors must make real commitments at next week's meeting on Syria and ensure that the money is delivered as soon as possible ... The situation demands committed funds in order to save lives," the report says. Al Jazeera (9/19), Al Jazeera (9/19), GlobalPost.com/Kyodo News (9/18) Share: Lack of jobs frustrates Ghana's newest workforce members Inter Press Service (9/19) Share: Niger details arrests made for preventing child polio vaccinations Nigerian Tribune (9/18) Share: Somalia's central bank head forced to step down amid allegations of graft Reuters (9/19) Share: Peacekeeping and Security Dismantling Syria's chemical-weapons arsenal will take time, money Syria's President Bashar al-Assad said in a television interview that it will take a year to dispose of the country's chemical-weapons stockpile at a cost of $1 billion. Reuters (9/18), Voice of America (9/19) Share: Fight over mineral wealth fuels DR Congo strife Sales of precious and rare metals continues to be a driver of the Democratic Republic of Congo's armed conflict, writes Jeffrey Gettleman. Conflict-free zones of mining are being established, but illegal activity continues to be profitable, he argues. National Geographic (10/2013) Share: Iran doesn't want nuclear weapons, Rouhani says Reuters (9/18) Share: Will Sudan's president attend the UN General Assembly? Inter Press Service (9/18) Share: Philippines conflict forces 100,000 from homes Thomson Reuters Foundation (9/19) Share: Can Mali's new leader achieve reconciliation? The Guardian (London) (9/18) Share: Rights group: UN should impose sanctions on CAR rebels Voice of America (9/18) Share: Position Title Company Name Location Program Manager Social Science Research Council Brooklyn, NY Communications Officer, UNA-USA United Nations Foundation Washington, DC